XXI. Over and over again you turn upon us the
silence of Scripture. But that it is not a strange doctrine, nor
an afterthought, but acknowledged and plainly set forth both by the
ancients and many of our own day, is already demonstrated by many
persons who have treated of this subject, and who have handled the Holy
Scriptures, not with indifference or as a mere pastime, but have gone
beneath the letter and looked into the inner meaning, and have been
deemed worthy to see the hidden beauty, and have been irradiated by the
light of knowledge. We, however in our turn will briefly prove it
as far as may be, in order not to seem to be over-curious or improperly
ambitious, building on another’s foundation. But since the
fact, that Scripture does not very clearly or very often write Him God
in express words (as it does first the Father and afterwards the Son),
becomes to you an occasion of blasphemy and of this excessive wordiness
and impiety, we will release you from this inconvenience by a short
discussion of things and names, and especially of their use in Holy
Scripture.